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> On 16 Aug 2015, at 4:12 AM, Philip Ferguson via Marxism > <marxism@lists.csbs.utah.edu> wrote: > > https://rdln.wordpress.com/2015/08/16/from-the-vaults-demystifying-the-dalai-lama/ > > <https://rdln.wordpress.com/2015/08/16/from-the-vaults-demystifying-the-dalai-lama/> I know there are very good reasons for the fanatical opposition to organised religion that one encounters among many Marxists (which doesn’t however mean that such fanaticism doesn’t generate blind spots). I also realise the Dalai Lama’s long record of favourable comments on Marxism were not widely known at the time this article was written. But I would have thought they were sufficiently well known by now as to warrant mention in a covering note upon dragging this piece up out of the vault and brushing off the cobwebs. One can certainly take issue with his interpretation of what has come to serve as Marxist orthodoxy - ironically one of the most anti-Marxist formulations conceivable - or even, maybe a bit less problematically, with his more social, inter-personal theory of revolutionary change - based more on waging compassion than on waging physical class struggle - but I think it strains credulity beyond the breaking point to dismiss remarks like the following, from 1993, as those of a feudalist-totalitarian agent of the CIA and its capitalist overlords, which the linked piece would seem to require: "Q: You have often stated that you would like to achieve a synthesis between Buddhism and Marxism. What is the appeal of Marxism for you? "A: Of all the modern economic theories, the economic system of Marxism is founded on moral principles, while capitalism is concerned only with gain and profitability. Marxism is concerned with the distribution of wealth on an equal basis and the equitable utilization of the means of production. It is also concerned with the fate of the working classes--that is, the majority--as well as with the fate of those who are underprivileged and in need, and Marxism cares about the victims of minority-imposed exploitation. For those reasons the system appeals to me, and it seems fair. I just recently read an article in a paper where His Holiness the Pope also pointed out some positive aspects of Marxism. "As for the failure of the Marxist regimes, first of all I do not consider the former USSR, or China, or even Vietnam, to have been true Marxist regimes, for they were far more concerned with their narrow national interests than with the Workers' International; this is why there were conflicts, for example, between China and the USSR, or between China and Vietnam. If those three regimes had truly been based upon Marxist principles, those conflicts would never have occurred. "I think the major flaw of the Marxist regimes is that they have placed too much emphasis on the need to destroy the ruling class, on class struggle, and this causes them to encourage hatred and to neglect compassion. Although their initial aim might have been to serve the cause of the majority, when they try to implement it all their energy is deflected into destructive activities. Once the revolution is over and the ruling class is destroyed, there is nor much left to offer the people; at this point the entire country is impoverished and unfortunately it is almost as if the initial aim were to become poor. I think that this is due to the lack of human solidarity and compassion. The principal disadvantage of such a regime is the insistence placed on hatred to the detriment of compassion. "The failure of the regime in the former Soviet Union was, for me, not the failure of Marxism but the failure of totalitarianism. For this reason I still think of myself as half-Marxist, half-Buddhist." From: http://hhdl.dharmakara.net/hhdlquotes1.html <http://hhdl.dharmakara.net/hhdlquotes1.html> _________________________________________________________ Full posting guidelines at: http://www.marxmail.org/sub.htm Set your options at: http://lists.csbs.utah.edu/options/marxism/archive%40mail-archive.com
